niedziela, 12 października 2014

CharityNight 2014

PHOTOS from Charity Night


Berlin - Vienna

Fly Niki. Isn’t this the airline of Niki Lauda? If you haven’t seen the Rush-movie, please give it a chance next time you watch a film. My respect for Niki Lauda and his revival James Hunt got to another level now that I know their story. Fly Niki must be one of the last airlines who tell you to switch off you iPads for landing…

I’m flying with manager Mikko. I did a 17-hour interview day in Berlin today and tomorrow we continue in Vienna, Austria. The day usually starts with some sort of breakfast TV or morning radio and then magazines in the afternoon and more radios and TV shows in the evening. Usually pretty much the same questions around the new album and The Voice and one acoustic song.

After Austria we fly to Stuttgart to join the Radio 7 gala again. We did that a couple of years ago with Riku but now the whole band is joining. It’ll be fun and I guess the guys are also happy to come over. We play an acoustic set for the gala guests near Stuttgart in Ulm. I guess it’s some kind of a charity thing. I better check out before we get there…;)

Next week it’s more promotion around our new “best of-” album. It’s finally out and the first sales numbers are quite interesting. Note: We never had a number one album anywhere – never. Maybe we won’t reach it with this one either. I really don’t care. The biggest thing personally is that you guys come to the shows.

I started writing this blog because I wanted to thank everyone for what happened in Lucerne last week. We all loved it super much and for me, personally, those evenings were the best experience on stage. Ever. Everyone did a huge job and I will sure miss the orchestra and our super cool Conductor-Ludwig, who kicked his group to the maximum every night.

The classical world is pretty strange. The musicians seem to play their instruments by the book as they should of course, but they’re also a bit more shy than us “softer genre” dudes. I had this idea that we should invite every orchestra member for a glass of champagne right after the last show on Saturday at the backstage. They were a little shy at first and we had to force them to take one glass each. The glasses were filled already. Ludwig said nobody had ever done something like that before. I tiny glass for the job they made. More than fair. I hope champagne after the last show will be the new normal in that gang from now on. Champagne is good for your soul.

We were super nervous before the first show. We didn’t know how you people would like what you see and hear. And actually even when we were playing Lifesaver the first night, I was thinking to myself “do they like what’s going on?” We’re used to seeing you hands up the latest at that song in the chorus. Now you were all sitting and listening. But in the end the applause exploded… WOW! We’ve done acoustic tours and stuff, but now, for the first time really, the songs were pretty much played and enjoyed without much partying around them. Of course there were party moments too, but especially songs like Forever Yours, Angels On A Rampage and “Girls Like You” we had a silent room and everyone was just listening. It was amazing

Raul’s job was to take care of the recording that evening and I really hope his sample-rate was set good. Well, he did pretty good job recording the DVD in Hamburg already with Mixing engineer Gorilla-Mikko, so I bet the session was in good hairy hands or Raul. Actually I guess this is a good moment to promote our new DVD ;) When we saw it for the first time, we thought we should send it to Dave Grohl. Just to show how things are done by the Finnish boys…;)

The Voice Of Germany started today. I was in the plane so I missed it, but I bet the editing team made a tremendous job again. I’m not sure if I wanna see myself on TV doing and especially saying silly stuff. We’ll see…

I’m in Vienna city already and I gotta go to bed. It’s 00:35 AM and the van will pick me up at 08:30. Still need a shower after all the TV makeup, but there’s a good seven hours to sleep. I started my day in Berlin waking up at 05:45, so falling asleep should not be a problem…

Good night everyone,

Samu

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

NEW DATES FOR 2015

23.05.2015 Hannover (Ger) - Expo-Plaza (only show with orchestra)
30.05.2015 Wiesen (Aut) - Festivelgelände Wiesen
19.06.2015 Munich (Ger) - Königsplatz
20.06.2015 Leipzig (Ger) - Völkerschlachtdenkmal
11.07.2015 St. Goarshausen (Ger) - Loreley Freilichtbühne
06.08.2015 Ludwigsburg (Ger) - Residenzschloss Ludwigsburg
08.08.2015 Schaffhausen (CH) - Stars in Town
09.08.2015 Zofingen (CH) - Heitere Open Air
15.08.2015 Oberhausen (Ger) - Open Air Gelände an der König-Pilsener-Arena
25.08.2015 Hamburg (Ger) - Hamburger Kultursommer 


HERE  you can buy tickets for upcoming concerts. 


Photos from Luzern

You Can Never Be Ready - Acoustic

Behind The Song

poniedziałek, 29 września 2014

Angels On A Rampage – Behind The Song

Since I already opened the story behind “Angels On A Rampage” on the “Hurtsville” blog last week, I will tell you a little bit about songwriting and I’ll show you how the song sounded right after we had recorded the very first demo at the writing session.

I had always written songs pretty much alone until spring 2010. Or of course someone, typically producer Jukka had many ideas on how to make the songs better, but the actual writing process was just me and my songwriting guitar on my sofa. It felt safe that way.

My publisher suggested that I’d start traveling outside Finland and doing co-write sessions with other songwriters too. They said it might give me new ideas and I could possibly learn to express my stuff better. I didn’t like the idea too much in the beginning but I thought I’d give it a try. If you stay too comfortable as an artist, you become boring and you start repeating yourself. And that can’t be too good for the career and for the music. And of course Stockholm, where they said I should start, is not the worst city in the world, I thought why the hell not.

Nobody said it out loud but the situation with Sunrise Avenue was pretty hard those days. Our second album PopGasm didn’t sell as good as the record companies or even we had hoped, even though I think there were great songs on it too. Especially Welcome To My Life. But it just didn’t sell. The tours were great and all but the fact is that if the album doesn’t sell, you will not be financed to make new music. I was in slight financial problems personally too those times after all the stuff that had happened so paying everything on our own or by myself wasn’t an option. Already one of my friends had sold his house for the first album and I was sure there would not be another one to sell.

The whole thing was a mess those times due to some problems inside the band and also the fact that we were still learning to live with the success that the first album brought. I knew our next album would either be a success and we’d become strong again or … I don’t know what would have happened but I would not be sitting on this 5-star hotel balcony writing this blog if it the sales would have stayed poor.

So… I flew to Stockholm and I must admit my stomach was full of butterflies as I sat in the taxi on my way to the studio. On the other hand I was totally getting out of my comfort zone going totally naked with my songwriting skills into a room with new folks. What if they thought I’m nogood? Or they didn’t like my voice or they just wouldn’t like me or what ever? My self-confidence was not mountain-size those times. On the other hand I knew I’d have to write a hit - alone or with someone - or the Sunrise ship would go down.

At the song writing sessions you focus on the melody and the lyrics. Of course you record some kind of a track too so there’s something you can listen to and play to the record industry folks, but you put all the energy on the actual melody & story.

Since 2010 I have written maybe 150 songs at these sessions. Only eight songs of these have ended up on Sunrise Avenue albums. Some songs have found a new home on some other artist’s albums, but many of them are still waiting for a reason to exist. And some of them are already forgotten. That’s how it goes in this business. You need to write around 30-40 songs to have 12 good ones for the album. I counted quickly 37 songs written for “Unholy Ground” album. Only the best 12 made it. Sad but true ;)

So. Before lunch we had finished the melody and the lyrics. We couldn’t have done it that fast without Sharon’s never-ending ideas for the lyrics. If the feeling is right, I’m usually pretty fast with the melodies but the lyrics can be a four-week-nightmare if I write alone. But with Sharon you have a basket full of good rhymes to choose from when you need a good line somewhere. After the lunch break, we worked with the track for maybe 2-3 hours. I loved Carl’s drum pattern idea immediately and actually you can hear the same drum thing played by Sami on the final track to. We decided to keep the rest very simple at the session so the song would stand out better. Just a bass, acoustic guitar and a (pretty crappy ;) electric guitar. And Sharon’s lady-like vocals too, even though they didn’t work with the final production unfortunately.

There it was – job well done. I went to my hotel and slept bad. I was getting ill, I thought.

I must say, I love these songwriting trips. Even though I love the people in my life, I love being totally alone with my thoughts for weeks somewhere away from home. You just live for the songs and you feel super lonely. That’s when the best and the most honest songs come out of my system.

Before we get to the songwriting demo, I’d like to give you a little advice if you wanna write songs. Focus on the melody and the lyrics. Period. Don’t hide the possible weakness of the song behind a drum loop or some arrangement stuff. If your song really is a good song, it has to work with something very minimal too. I believe in melodies and simple lyrics that people can actually understand. If your neighbor’s 4-year old kid starts smiling or jumping around with only the chorus melody – you have a diamond in your hands. Hallelujah!

So… Now to the demo. Here it is.

https://soundcloud.com/samu-hapa-haber/angels-on-a-rampage-songwriting-demo

And here is the new live version on our Facebook video player. It’s from the Unholy Ground Live DVD – out this Friday!

https://www.facebook.com/sunriseavenue/app_1477485535854823?app_data=9

Big love everyone! 4 days to our FIRST EVER “best of“ album release. Quite amazing!

Hugs,

Samu

niedziela, 28 września 2014

Boxing night

 We are getting involved with some serious man stuff tonight. Don't miss us tonight at the sup-middleweight world title fight Arthur Abraham (GER) and Paul Smith (UK). We are supporting King Arthur and we play his entrance song on the live TV broadcast. In the UK sky sport 2 at 10 PM, in Germany on ARD at 11 PM. Check out the rest of the countries online. Go Arthur. Veä sitä lättyyn! #arthurabraham #kingarthur #sunriseavenue #boxing #lättyyn
Boxing night. Congrats Arthur!!! I know our song / performance helped you a bit :) News to all teenagers suffering for red dots on the face: "the dots don't disappear even if you grow older!" (See my nose) I must say I love Raul's battle face... #sunriseavenue #ringside #arthurabraham #kingarthur

Platin for Sunrise Avenue

Album "Unholy Ground" pokrył się platyną. Krążek sprzedał się w 200.000 tys. egzemplarzy. Congratulations!!!
Click!




Samu's blogs

Samu dodał 3 nowe notki, w których opisuje jak powstały piosenki: Hurtsville, I Can Break Your Heart i Funkytown.

Hurtsville - Behind The Song
I Can Break Your Heart - Behind The Song
Funkytown Feat. Tommy Lindgren - Behind The Song


Trailer

Trailer do Fairytales - Best Of 2006-2014 możecie zobaczyć TUTAJ lub na facebook'u Sunrise Avenue.


Videoplayer

TUTAJ możecie oglądnąć teledyski i specjalne filmiki do piosenek, które będą na nowej płycie Sunrise Avenue - Fairytales - Best Of 2006-2014. Pojawiły się już 3 nowe filmiki: Hurtsville i I Can Break Your Heart z koncertu w Hamburgu (18.02.2014) oraz specjalne Lyric Video do Funkytown.


You Can Never Be Ready - video


poniedziałek, 18 sierpnia 2014

Wywiad z Samu w Zabrzu

Karolina Paduszyńska: Bardzo miło jest was znów zobaczyć w Polsce. Jak się tutaj czujecie?

Samu Haber: Jesteśmy bardzo szczęśliwi, że znów mieliśmy okazję tutaj zagrać. Od naszej poprzedniej wizyty w Polsce minęły już ponad 3 lata. To sporo czasu. Zawsze chętnie przyjeżdżamy do waszego kraju. Czujemy się tutaj bardzo dobrze. Mamy nadzieję, że niedługo znów się zobaczymy!

Zagraliście dziś na scenie Lata Zet i telewizyjnej Dwójki. Jakie są wasze wrażenia po występie?

To bardzo fajna impreza. Co prawda kiedy pojawiliśmy się na miejscu  byliśmy lekko przerażeni ilością wody i błota, które znajdowały się przed sceną. Na szczęście do czasu koncertu wszystko zostało odpowiednio przygotowane. Z nieba zniknęły te okropne czarne chmury, pogoda jest świetna. Muszę przyznać, że to show jest dobrze zorganizowane pod względem technicznym. Wszystko idzie zgodnie z planem.    

W zeszłym roku w sklepach muzycznym pojawił się wasz kolejny album Unholy Ground. Czy w stacjach radiowych pojawi się jeszcze jeden singiel z tej płyty?
Nie planujemy wypuszczać już żadnego singla z Unholy Ground. Myślę, że całkiem niedługo podbijemy wasz rynek zupełnie nową muzyką.

Na jesień tego roku zaplanowaliście wydanie nowego krążka, będącego  kompilacją waszych największych hitów. Pojawią się tam też nowe utwory?

Zgadza się, w październiku wydamy nowy album. To będzie absolutne The BEST of the BEST of Sunrise Avenue. Zdecydowaliśmy, że na płycie pojawią się trzy zupełnie nowe utwory. Ich wybór nie był łatwy, dlatego gwarantuję, że to będzie coś naprawdę niesamowitego. Ta płyta będzie podsumowaniem naszej dwunastoletniej pracy na scenie. To kawał czasu. Przez te wszystkie lata bardzo wiele się zmieniło, poznaliśmy masę niesamowitych ludzi, odwiedziliśmy wiele krajów. Na całe szczęście nadal funkcjonujemy na rynku i mamy swoich odbiorców.

Oprócz pracy związanej z promocją Sunrise Avenue  od jakiegoś czasu pojawiasz się także na planie The Voice of Germany. Jak się czujesz w roli jurora tego programu?

To przede wszystkim  fajna przygoda, świetnie się bawię na planie. Nagrywamy właśnie drugi sezon z moim udziałem. Do wielu rzeczy zdążyłem się już przyzwyczaić, czuję się tam bardzo swobodnie. Najważniejsze jest dla mnie to, że mam okazję poznać wyjątkowych  ludzi, którzy są przy tym bardzo utalentowani.  Dużą satysfakcję daje mi to, że mogę im pomóc. Ten program może zmienić czyjeś życie. Fajnie, że mogę się do tego przyczynić. Nadal pracuję z Sunrise Avenue,  ale mogę równocześnie zrobić  coś zupełnie innego, także związanego z muzyką. Muszę powiedzieć, że takie zmiany są czasami bardzo potrzebne. Ten program pomógł mi otworzyć oczy na wiele spraw.  Kiedy widzisz zmagania ludzi, którzy usiłują spełnić swoje muzyczne marzenia i jak trudna i kręta może okazać się ich droga do sukcesu, zdajesz sobie sprawę z tego , że masz ogromne szczęście.  Jestem naprawdę szczęśliwy, że mojemu zespołowi udało się osiągnąć tak wiele.  

Dziękuję za rozmowę.
Dzięki i mam nadzieję do zobaczenia wkrótce! 

https://www.facebook.com/notes/sunrise-avenue-poland/wywiad-z-samu-lato-zet/753391591366497

Sunrise Avenue - Zabrze

piątek, 15 sierpnia 2014

YOU CAN NEVER BE READY

Here is complete tracklist for the FAIRYTALES Best Of -album, first single You Can Never Be Ready will be serviced to radios already next week!
1. YOU CAN NEVER BE READY
2. HOLLYWOOD HILLS
3. I DON'T DANCE
4. MONK BAY
5. LITTLE BIT LOVE
6. FUNKYTOWN feat Tommy Lindgren
7. WELCOME TO MY LIFE
8. FAIRYTALE GONE BAD
9. ANGELS ON A RAMPAGE
10. I CAN BREAK YOUR HEART
11. HURTSVILLE
12. DAMN SILENCE
13. NOTHING IS OVER
14. FOREVER YOURS
15. CHOOSE TO BE ME
16. LIFESAVER
17. SWEET SYMPHONY


piątek, 11 lipca 2014

Samu about The Voice Of Germany.

Small interview from Volt Festival

HERE you can see another interview (audio, no video)

HERE you can find some photos from Volt Festival.

And some pics:
(c)Petró Adri
 (c) Sonja Smooth